Ejector type bucket loader



United States Patent Inventors Andrew J. Allen Washington; Rodney H. e1 uderson; Trevor G. Campbell, Peoria; Emil B. Lee, Jr., Morton, Illinois Appl. No. 856,221 Filed Sept. 8, 1969 Patented Nov. 10, 1970 Assignee Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Peoria, Illinois a corporation of California Continuation of application Ser, No. 658,115, Aug. 3, 1967, abandoned.

EJECTOR TYPE BUCKET LOADER 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

11.8. CI 214/767 Int. Cl E02f 3/70 Field of Search [Review of App]. Ser. No. 658,1 ll

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,783,903 3/1957 Beyerstedt 214/775 2,852,869 9/1958 Beyerstedt. 214/510X 3,057,496 10/1962 Garske 214/767 3,122,248 2/1964 Campbell et a1.... 2l4/510X 3,246,778 4/1966 Kampert et a1. 214/140UX Primary Examiner-Hugo O. Schulz Atl0rneyFryer, Tjensvold, Feix, Phillips and Lempio ABSTRACT: A large capacity bucket loader having an ejector bucket pivotally connected to the loader vehicle by means of lift arms. Tilt jacks are disposed upon the loader for direct interaction between the vehicle and the ejector bucket assembly to provide for tilting of the bucket.

Patented Nov. 10, 1970 I 3,539,069

INVENTORS ANDREW J3 ALLEN RODNEY H. ANDERSON TREVOR e. CAMPBELL y EMIL 9. LEE, JR.

EJECTOR TYPE BUCKET LOADER CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. PATENTS This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 658,1 filed Aug. 3, 1967, now abandoned. U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 591,862, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,426,928 "Ejector Mechanism For Loader Buckets", filed Nov. 3, 1966, by Trevor 0. Campbell and assigned to the Assignee of the present invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE lNVENTlON It is well known in the prior art to employ ejector buckets which are mounted on tractors by means of lift arms. However, in such ejector buckets, one of which is exemplified in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 591,862, tilting of the bucket assembly is commonly controlled by means of hydraulic jacks interacting between the bucket and the loader lift arms, by means of tilt linkage. Such interconnecting tilt linkages generally comprise numerous levers and links, with a large number of pins also required for interconnection of those components. This type of tilt linkage is commonly employed to reduce the operating limit of the tilt jacks between their extended and retracted positions and thus reduce stress on the interconnecting linkage component, since a portion of the tilting operation of the bucket automatically results from its motion upon the lift arms.

However, the relatively complex nature of such interconnecting bucket linkages raises certain problems when the bucket size is increased to provide a substantially greater load carrying capacity. For a better appreciation of the problems involved, it is noted that the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an ejector bucket which has a capacity of 18 cubic yards and which has dimensions of approximately 8 feet high by 8 feet deep by 16 feet wide. With bucket assemblies of substantial capacities in this range or greater, it is readily apparent that the levers, linksand pins which make up the interconnecting bucket linkage, must be substantially strengthened to support the loaded bucket thus resulting in high initial and repair costs.

The present invention provides a simplified bucket loader having an ejector bucket pivotally mounted for motion on lift arms with motor means controlling the tilt position of the bucket being disposed for direct interaction between the loader vehicle and the bucket assembly.

The present bucket loader permits a substantial decrease in the number of members and pins in the interconnecting linkage which supports and controls the ejector bucket assembly, thus reducing the cost and complexity of such components particularly when the ejector bucket loader is of a high capacity type.

Additional advantages of the present invention are made apparent in the following description of a preferred embodiment described with reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view in elevation of an ejector bucket loader; and

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the ejector bucket assembly, with parts in section and parts broken away, in a loading and dumping position respectively.

A bucket loader vehicle shown in FIG. 1 has a rear section 12 with a loader frame 13 connected thereto in articulated fashion at 14. An ejector bucket assembly 16 is mounted on the frame by interconnecting linkage generally indicated at 17 which includes, on either'side of the bucket and louder frame, a lift arm 18 pivotally connected to the loader frame and bucket assembly at 19 and 21 respectively. A hydraulic jack 22 is pivotally interconnected between the loader frame and the lift arm for controlling bucket elevation. Another hydraulic jack 23 for controlling the tilt position of the bucket is disposed for direct interaction between the loader frame of the vehicle and the bucket assembly. The bucket assembly is illustrated in a loading position at ground level in HQ. 1 while its position at a suitable dump height subsequent to dumping is illustrated in phantom at 24.

The ejector bucket assembly 16 is similar to one disclosed in U.S. S. Patuapplication Ser. No. 591,862 and as shown in lFlG. 2 comprises a fabricated floor as, having a forward cutting edge 27 and attached to a pair of sidewalls, one of which is indicated at 28 as extending upwardly for connection to a crossbeam 29. A pair of bucket support members, one of which is indicated at 31, extend between and are secured to the crossbeam and the bucket floor. The pivot points 21 of the lift arms are in these beams. An ejector plate 33 is pivotally supported from each bucket support by means of a link 34 connected therebetween at points 36 and 37. The ejector plate is further supported at each side by means of a rearwardly facing bracket 38 and a lever 39 which is pivotally connected to the brackets by a pivot pin 41 and to the pivot pin 21 at its opposite end. A hydraulic jack 42 for controlling operation of the ejector is connected to a midpoint of the lever 39 by means of trunions as and has its rod end 44 pivotally con nected to the ejector plate at 46. The ejector plate normally forms a rear surfaceof the bucket during loading, and as the rod of the ejector jack is extended, the ejector is moved forwardly through the bucket to a position illustrated in FIG. 3 and in the phantom bucket position 24 of PK). 1. When the bucket is empty the plate is returned to its position at the rear of the bucket by retraction of the ejector jack.

Referring particularly to FIG. l, a rod d7 of each tilt jack 23 is pivotally connected to a pin 32 in the bucket assembly. A rearward extension 48 of each tilt jack is pivotally connected to the loader frame by a pin 49 which is disposed upwardly and rearwardly from the pivot connection between the loader frame and the lift arm. Due to the relative positions of the pivot points 49 and 19, the bucket assembly remains in substantially the same carry position relative to the ground as it is raised or lowered upon its arms without operation of the tilt jacks. Each lift jack 22 is connected to the loader frame by trunions indicated at 51 and has its rod $2 pivotally connected to a bracket 53 on the lift arm by means of a pin 54. Each lift jack is connected to its lift arm at a point substantially forward of its pivotal connection with the loader frame to take advantage of the long movement arm. This enables employment of a standard lift jack even with a bucket of very great capacity. It is to be noted that this arrangement is possible because the use of an ejector type bucket reduces the height to which the bucket must be raised by the lift arms for dumping.

Numerous advantages are readily apparent in the present invention. For example, the number of components and pins in the bucket interconnecting linkage which support and control the large capacity bucket is substantially reduced. Thus, it is simpler and less expensive to provide great strength within those components to support the large capacity bucket. The use of the ejector type bucket in such large capacity units is of particular advantage since it permits positive removal of sticking material from the bucket and permits dumping of the bucket with its floor in a generally horizontal position with an accordingly greater reach of the bucket over a transport vehicle and also accordingly permitting the loader to be moved away from the transport vehicle without first repositioning the bucket. All of these advantages add to the critical operating efficiency of such bucket loaders. Also, with reference to FIG. 1, the advantages of the present directly connected tilt jacks employed with an ejector bucket are readily apparent by considering the replacement of the ejector bucket with a standard bucket which must be tilted forwardly to have its floor sloping generally downwardly for unloading. lf such a standard bucket were tilted forwardly sufficient for dumping, it is apparent that the jack and bucket pivots would tend to go over center thus making it impossible to rack buck the bucket assembly or at least causing considerable stress in the tilt jacks during the rack back operation.

We claim:

1. ln a vehicular bucket loader, the combination comprising:

an ejector bucket pivotally supported at one end of the vehicle by lift arms, the bucket including ejector means operable to unload material from the bucket;

lift motor meansinterconnected between the vehicle and lifts arms to'control elevation of the bucket on its lift arms, said lift motor means comprising hydraulic motor means pivotally connected to the vehicle and to the lift arms at a point substantially forward of the pivotal connection between the lift arms and the vehicle; tilt motor hydraulic jack means connected to the bucket and to the'vehicle independent from the lift arms for direct interaction between the bucket and vehicle to pivot the bucket on the lift arms, said tilt means being pivotaliy connected to the vehicle at a point upwardly and rearwardly from the pivotal connection of the lift arms on the vehicle, said tilt means being pivotally connected to an upper portion of the bucket; the pivotal connection between the lift arms and bucket being adjacent the floor of the bucket. said floor of said bucket being maintainable by said tilt means substantially in the same angular disposition between the normal unloading position and the normal transport position; and

said ejector means including an ejector plate support means for said ejector plate intereonneeted'between said ejector plate and the bucket, and hydraulic jack means associated with said support means for driving said ejector plate.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the vehicle includes an operator station, the pivotal connection between the lift means and vehicle being adjacent a lower portion of the operator station to maintain good visibility from the operator station. 

